A conviction for a drug crime in North Carolina can have a wide range of negative consequences. Avoiding this situation involves many factors, including knowing the common risk factors for drug abuse.

Armed with this knowledge, people can take steps to reduce the chances drugs will harm their health,  finances and relationships.

Risks factors could have a cumulative effect

According to a report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, no single factor determines whether or not a person will suffer from drug addiction. However, the presence of several risk factors could increase a person’s likelihood of abusing drugs.

For example, a person who experiments with drugs and who has easy access to drugs at a young age could experience a greater risk of substance abuse. Adding other factors such as the inability to stand up to peers and lack of parental supervision further increases the chance of drug problems. The report also mentions community poverty and aggressive behavior in childhood as significant risk factors.

Risk factors could have a biological component

Complicated situations with genetics also might influence a person’s predisposition to addiction. If drug problems run in the family, relatives might have a higher risk of drug abuse.

Information also indicates that people with mental disorders tend to misuse drugs and alcohol. Individuals who identify multiple risk factors can take advance precautions, such as counseling, that might have positive impacts.

Substance abuse issues have many causes, but people can take positive steps to avoid problems. These measures include counseling programs as well as a strong legal defense to minimize the impacts of a drug charge.